In 1952, Raymond Scott designed and built two of the world’s first multi-track tape machines, capable of recording seven and fourteen parallel tracks on a single reel. Two years later, sonic maverick Les Paul made an eight-track prototype, and inventor Hugh Le Caine devised a way to mix-down six separate tape sources in 1955. But as author/music historian Thom Holmes points out, “nobody came close to matching Scott’s early achievement.” Scott filed two patents for his advancements in magnetic tape technology in 1953, and a third in ’59.

Neil Strauss included a chapter about Raymond Scott in his new book, EVERYONE LOVES YOU WHEN YOU’RE DEAD, and added this footnote:

"During an interview with Les Paul, the musician who helped develop the electric guitar and popularize multi-track recording, I mentioned Raymond Scott and accidentally set him off on a tirade. Evidently, the two were rival innovators. 'He used to come to my house,' Paul snapped. 'He sure had some equipment though. I envied him.'"

Music from the iTunes Store: Raymond Scott Essentials

Documentary Film Reviews:

DVD: Raymond Scott DocumentaryDECONSTRUCTING DAD

For more info, click above or below to visit: ScottDoc.com

Raymond Scott Portrait by DREW FRIEDMAN

Limted Edition (30) Fine Art Printssigned and titled by the artist.

Raymond Scott Sheet Music

Scott charts are not commercially available but we provide copies to interested musicians, conductors, bandleaders, and academic groups at nominal cost. Titles are arranged in various configurations (lead sheets, piano, sextet, and/or small orchestra). Some are vintage 1940s published arrangements, others are recent, expertly annotated transcriptions of classic Scott recordings. Drop us an email and we'll send you a list in pdf format.